The Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions come from the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue and explain how to apply for exemption from local real estate tax on the home of a veteran rated 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability. The exemption is one of the Newport News property tax programs the Commissioner administers, and a surviving spouse may also qualify. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the application is delivered to the Commissioner of the Revenue by mail or in person, and the city publishes the document at nnva.gov.
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What is Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions – Newport News, VA?
The Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions is the City of Newport News document, issued by the Commissioner of the Revenue, that tells a disabled veteran or a surviving spouse how to complete and submit the application for the real estate tax exemption on a principal residence.
The exemption comes from a constitutional amendment approved by Virginia voters on November 2, 2010. In 2011 the General Assembly added sections 58.1-3219.5 and 58.1-3219.6 to the Code of Virginia. Under section 58.1-3219.5, the General Assembly exempts from taxation the real property of a veteran rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability, including the joint real property of husband and wife, when the veteran occupies it as a principal place of residence.
The instructions walk through the application: the veteran's and spouse's identifying details, the address of the principal residence, contact numbers, four yes-or-no questions and the declaration signed under penalty of law. They also list the documents that must be attached.
The Commissioner of the Revenue's page says the exemption applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. Newport News assesses real estate tax for a fiscal year running from July 1 to June 30.
Who needs to file Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions – Newport News, VA?
Veterans who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability, and who occupy their real property as their principal place of residence, apply with this document. The exemption covers the joint real property of husband and wife. The Commissioner's page adds that, according to a July 15, 2011 opinion of Virginia's Attorney General, veterans paid at the 100% rate on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are also covered.
A surviving spouse of a veteran who was eligible for the exemption also qualifies, but only if all three conditions are met:
- the veteran's death occurred on or after January 1, 2011;
- the surviving spouse has not remarried;
- the surviving spouse continues to occupy the property as a principal place of residence.
A surviving spouse completes the same application and must provide additional documents, listed under required documents. The instructions have lines for both the veteran and the spouse of the veteran. Owners of property that is not their principal residence are not covered by the exemption as described.
When to file Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions – Newport News, VA
Apply once you meet the requirements: you are a veteran with a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability rating who lives in the home as a principal residence, or the surviving spouse of such a veteran who died on or after January 1, 2011. The instructions print no separate deadline for submitting the application.
The Commissioner of the Revenue's page explains the timing of the exemption: it applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, and Newport News bills real estate tax by fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. For questions about when an exemption will take effect on your bill, call (757)926-8653.
Documents you need
- The original designated letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs attesting that the veteran is 100% service-connected, permanently and totally disabled.
- Proof of residency, such as a utility bill (Dominion Power) or a bank statement.
- A copy of a photo ID.
- The signed Veteran certification form.
- For a surviving spouse: a copy of the veteran's death certificate confirming a date of death on or after January 1, 2011.
- For a surviving spouse: certified documentation of marriage to the qualified veteran.
How to fill out Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions – Newport News, VA
Enter the veteran's details
Enter the name, date of birth and social security number of the disabled veteran.
Enter the spouse's details
Enter the name, date of birth and social security number of the spouse of the disabled veteran.
Enter the principal residence address
Write the address of the principal residence to be exempted from local real estate tax.
Add a mailing address if different
Enter the mailing address only if it differs from the principal residence.
Enter your phone numbers
Enter a home phone number and an alternate phone number, both including area codes.
Answer the four yes-or-no questions
Answer each of the four questions with yes or no, and provide any additional information necessary.
Gather the required attachments
Prepare the original Department of Veterans Affairs letter, proof of residency, a copy of photo ID and the signed Veteran certification form. A surviving spouse also adds the death certificate and certified documentation of marriage.
Review the declaration and sign
Read the statements in the declaration carefully before signing; your signature declares under penalty of law that they are true and correct.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your documents, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Exemption Application Instructions – Newport News, VA
Your completed application and the required documents may be mailed to the Commissioner of the Revenue or delivered in person at either office location.
- In person or by mail, City Hall: 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23607.
- In person or by mail, Satellite office: 12912 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23608.
- Telephone and fax: (757)926-8653 for questions about the program; fax (757)247-2628.
The instructions print no separate mailing address beyond these two office locations. The Commissioner's page also lists 24-hour dropboxes at the City Hall office (front of the building, left of the entry doors), at the Denbigh Satellite office (side of the building) and a dropbox-only location at 700 Town Center Dr. Office hours listed there are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also download the application from www.nnva.gov/cor.
Send the original Department of Veterans Affairs letter and the other attachments with the application. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Attaching a copy instead of the original designated letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the instructions ask for the original.
- Leaving out the signed Veteran certification form, one of the four documents the instructions require.
- Omitting proof of residency, such as a Dominion Power utility bill or a bank statement.
- Sending the application without a copy of a photo ID.
- Signing the declaration without reading it; the signature states under penalty of law that all statements are true and correct.
- Skipping any of the four yes-or-no questions instead of answering each one and adding the information needed.
- Filing as a surviving spouse without the veteran's death certificate showing a date of death on or after January 1, 2011, or without certified documentation of marriage.
- Leaving out the mailing address when it differs from the principal residence address.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Newport News property tax exemption for disabled veterans work?
It exempts from real estate tax the property of a veteran rated 100% service-connected, permanent and total disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, if the veteran lives there as a principal residence. You apply to the Commissioner of the Revenue using this application and its required attachments.
Who qualifies for the disabled veteran real estate tax exemption in Newport News?
A veteran rated by the VA as 100% service-connected, permanent and totally disabled who occupies the property as a principal residence. The Commissioner's page says veterans paid at the 100% rate for individual unemployability also qualify, and joint property of husband and wife is covered.
Can a surviving spouse get the exemption?
Yes, if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, the surviving spouse has not remarried and still lives in the property as a principal residence. The spouse must also provide the veteran's death certificate and certified documentation of marriage.
What documents do I attach to the application?
Attach the original VA designation letter (100% service-connected, permanently and totally disabled), proof of residency such as a Dominion Power bill or bank statement, a copy of photo ID and the signed Veteran certification form. Surviving spouses add more documents.
Where do I turn in the disabled veteran exemption application?
Mail it to the Commissioner of the Revenue or deliver it in person at City Hall, 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23607, or the Satellite office, 12912 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23608. For help, call (757)926-8653.
Can I fill out this application online?
You can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to the City of Newport News, and does not submit the application; you deliver it to the Commissioner of the Revenue by mail or in person.
Does the exemption apply if the veteran is paid at 100% for unemployability?
Yes. The Commissioner's page cites a July 15, 2011 opinion of Virginia's Attorney General stating that the exemption also applies to veterans paid at the 100% rate on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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